OBJECTIVETo discuss the anti-inflammatory mechanism of sinomenine on inflammatory media in joint of adjuvant arthritis rats.

METHODRats were randomly divided into the normal group and the model group, the prednisone group, the small, medium, large of sinomenine group (30, 60, 120 mg x kg(-1)). Except for the rats in the normal group, animals were modeled to adjuvant arthritiswith freund's complete adjuvant. The arthritis index (AI) and the swelling degree of paws were recorded, and the activity of IL-1, TNF and the levels of NO, PGE2 in joint fluids of secondary arthritis were determined.

RESULTCompared with the normal group, the activity of IL-1, TNF and the levels of NO, PGE2 in joint fluids of secondary arthritis were increased significantly in the model group (P < 0.05). Compared with the model group, it was shown to exert a dramatic inhibitory effect on secondary reaction of freund's adjuvant arthritis of rats, and the activity of IL-1, TNF and the levels of NO, PGE2 in joint fluids of secondary arthritis were significantly decreased in the sinomenine group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSinomenine has a remarkable treatment effect on RA. It is via NO to inhibit the activity of cytokines and decrease the level of inflammation mediators, which may be one of its curing RA mechanism.

Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal ; therapeutic use ; Arthritis, Experimental ; drug therapy ; Dinoprostone ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Interleukin-1 ; metabolism ; Male ; Morphinans ; therapeutic use ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism ; Phytotherapy ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Sinomenium ; chemistry ; Synovial Fluid ; metabolism

The inhibition activity of 36 flavonoids against CYP1A2 was determined by our previously developed in vitro method. The Comparative Molecular Similarity Indexes Analysis (CoMSJA) approach was used to probe the quantitative relationships between the flavonoids' molecular structural descriptors and their inhibitory activities. A reliable CoMSIA model with the combined electrostatic and hydrophobic fields was derived with the regression coefficient R2 of 0.948 and the cross-validation regression coefficient q2 of 0.630, separately, which is capable of elucidating the quantitative relationship between the 3D structural descriptors of the flavones and their bioactivities. Comparing with flavone, the larger pi-pi conjugated system of alpha-naphthoflavone significantly improved the biologically inhibitory ability. Based on the core structure of the latter, either electropositive substituents or hydrophobic groups at the 6, 3', and 4' ring positions or electronegative counterparts at the 5 ring position, can enhance the inhibitory potency against CYP1 A2 according to the CoMSIA contour maps.
Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A2 ; metabolism ; Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A2 Inhibitors ; Flavonoids ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Microsomes, Liver ; metabolism ; Models, Molecular ; Molecular Structure ; Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship

OBJECTIVETo observe the influence of Xinmaitong capsule (XMT) on serum matrix metalloproteinases-9, high sensitive C-reactive protein levels in patients with acute coronary syndrome.

METHOD63 cases were divided by randomized, contrastive assigned to XMT group (n = 31) and control group (n = 32). The serum levels of MMP-9 and hs-CRP before and after treatment in 12 weeks were detected.

RESULTAfter treatment, the serum levels of MMP-9 in control group had no changed and the levels of hs-CRP reduced. The serum levels of MMP-9 and hs-CRP in XMT group had significantly decreased. The serum levels of MMP-9 and hs-CRP had positive correlation, but had no correlation to levels of serum lipids.

CONCLUSIONXMT decreased breakdown of matrix collagen, and inflammatory reaction in the patients of ACS, which may have effect on plaque stabilization.

Acute Coronary Syndrome ; blood ; drug therapy ; Aged ; C-Reactive Protein ; metabolism ; Capsules ; Cholesterol ; blood ; Cholesterol, HDL ; blood ; Cholesterol, LDL ; blood ; Drug Combinations ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 ; blood ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Triglycerides ; blood

OBJECTIVETo investigate the stress distribution in three ferrule designs in a maxillary central incisor restoration using PFM crown with post, and evaluate the biomechanical mechanism of the ferrule effect in the post crown by 3D finite element dynamic analysis.

METHODSThe 3D finite element model of a maxillary central incisor restored with post and PFM crown was established. By simulating three types of ferrule effect [crown wrapping dentine (A), core collar wrapping (B), and contrabevel (C)] under dynamic loading, the dentin stress was analyzed.

RESULTSDuring dynamic loading, the stress distribution tended to increase from the cervical part to root middle and radical part of the tooth, and greater high stress area was found around the apex of the post, where the peak stress was observed value. The stress of the labial dentin of the root inferior segment increased obviously. The high stress areas were invariable at every loading step during dynamic loading. The peak stress was sigma(vonA)

CONCLUSIONSWhen the ferrule is 2 mm, the ferrule effect maintained by crown wrapping cervical dentine (A) and core collar wrapping (B) is greater than that maintained by contrabevel (C),but there is no significant difference between A and B. The post with higher elastic modules may cause restore failure due to the high stress at the post apex and labial dentin.

Compressive Strength ; Crowns ; standards ; Dental Stress Analysis ; methods ; Finite Element Analysis ; Humans ; Incisor ; Post and Core Technique

OBJECTIVETo explore the relationship between the collision parameters of vehicle and the pedestrian thorax injury by establishing the chest simulation models in car-pedestrian collision at different velocities and angles.

METHODS87 cases of vehicle-to-pedestrian accidents, with detailed injury information and determined vehicle impact parameters, were included. The severity of injury was scaled in line with the Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS). The chest biomechanical response parameters and change characteristics were obtained by using Hyperworks and LS-DYNA computing. Simulation analysis was applied to compare the characteristics of injuries.

RESULTSWhen impact velocities at 25, 40 and 55 km/h, respectively, 1) the maximum values of thorax velocity criterion (VC) were for 0.29, 0.83 and 2.58 m/s; and at the same collision velocity, the thorax VC from the impact on pedestrian's front was successively greater than on his back and on his side; 2) the maximum values of peak stress on ribs were 154, 177 and 209 MPa; and at the same velocity, peak stress values on ribs from the impact on pedestrian's side were greater than on his front and his back.

CONCLUSIONThere is a positive correlation between the severity and risk of thorax injury and the collision velocity and angle of car-thorax crashes. At the same velocity, it is of greater damage risk when the soft tissue of thorax under a front impact; and there is also a greater risk of ribs fracture under a side impact of the thorax. This result is of vital significance for diagnosis and protection of thorax collision injuries.

Accidents, Traffic ; Adult ; Aged ; Biomechanical Phenomena ; Female ; Finite Element Analysis ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pedestrians ; Stress, Mechanical ; Thoracic Injuries ; etiology ; Trauma Severity Indices

OBJECTIVETo investigate epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene mutations in exons 19 and 21 of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and to analyze the relationship of EGFR mutations with clinicopathological features and prognosis.

METHODSThe EGFR gene exons 19 and 21 of paraffin-embedded tumor tissue were amplified by PCR, followed by direct sequencing in 282 surgically-removed specimens of NSCLC. The relationship of EGFR gene mutations in NSCLC with clinicopathological features and prognosis were analyzed.

RESULTSEGFR mutations were detected in 120 of 282 (42.6%) patients with NSCLC. There were 61 cases of the mutations in exon 19 and 66 cases of the mutations in exon 21, including 7 cases of the mutations both in exons 19 and 21. Mutations were more frequently observed in women (55.2%, 53/96) than in men (36.0%, 67/186), in 51 to 60-years-old (51.3%, 39/76) than ≤50-years-old (30.4%, 21/69) and >60-years-old (43.8%, 60/137), in non-smokers (54.3%, 69/127) than smokers (32.9%, 51/155), there was negative correlation of EGFR mutations with smoking status (P=0.000, rs=-0.216). EGFR mutations were more frequently observed in adenocarcinomas (47.8%, 64/134), bronchiolo-alveolar carcinomas (73.0%, 27/37), adenosquamous carcinomas (7/9) than squamous cell carcinomas (23.6%, 17/72) and other types (16.7%, 5/30). The EGFR mutation rate in the well differentiated, the middle differentiated, the poorly differentiated and the undifferentiated was 55.7% (68/122), 50.8% (30/59), 22.7% (17/75), 19.2% (5/26) respectively, the incidences of EGFR mutations decreased with the degrading of differentiation, there was positive correlation of EGFR mutations with differentiation of lung cancer (P=0.000, rs=0.296). The patients with EGFR mutations had better prognosis than those with wild-type EGFR (P=0.027). There was no association of EGFR mutations with clinical TNM stage.

CONCLUSIONSEGFR mutations occur frequently in females, non-smokers and adenocarcinomas, bronchioloalveolar carcinomas, and adenosquamous carcinomas. The patients with EGFR mutations have better prognosis. The results may offer a practical approach to select the patients who may benefit from anti-EGFR target therapy.

Adenocarcinoma ; genetics ; Adenocarcinoma, Bronchiolo-Alveolar ; genetics ; Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Carcinoma, Adenosquamous ; genetics ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; genetics ; pathology ; Exons ; Female ; Gene Amplification ; Genes, erbB-1 ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; methods ; Lung Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mutation ; Mutation Rate ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Prognosis ; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor ; genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; methods ; Sex Factors ; Smoking ; Survival Rate

【Objective】 To study the impact of lupus flares on pregnancy outcomes in pregnant patients with systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE), and analyze the risk factors of adverse pregnancy outcomes. 【Methods】 Data were obtained from 95 pregnancies of 89 patients with SLE between January 1, 2013 and December 31, 2018 at The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University and its Lingnan Branch. The relationship between lupus flares and pregnancy outcomes, and the risk factors for adverse pregnancy outcomes were analyzed. 【Results】 ①The disease changes were evaluated by SLEDI and divided into two groups. Lupus flares occurred in 39 pregnancies(group A), and stable lupus disease was observed in 56 pregnancies(group B). The activity rate of lupus flares was 41.05%, compared with pregnancies in patients with stable lupus disease before pregnancy, pregnancies in patients with first onset pregnancy and unplanned pregnancy before pregnancy had higher lupus flares during pregnancy(100% vs. 28.21%, P < 0.05). ②Adverse pregnancy outcomes: the incidence of fetal loss, preterm labor, intrauterine growth retardation, preeclampsia and active lupus nephritis in group A was 20.51%, 35.90%, 43.59%, 17.95% and 41.02%, respectively, which was significantly higher than those of the group B(1.8%, 14.29%, 17.86%, 3.57% and 0, respectively) (P < 0.05). There was no difference in fetal distress, neonatal asphyxia and neonatal lupus between the two groups(10.26% vs. 1.79%, 7.69% vs. 1.79%, 2.56% vs. 0, respectively; P > 0.05). ③The Logistic regression analysis showed that unplanned pregnancy before pregnancy, active lupus nephritis during pregnancy, aPL positive and antiSSA positive were risk factors for adverse pregnancy outcomes(P < 0.05) . 【Conclusions】 Conception timing for pregnant women is crucial to lupus flares during pregnancy. Lupus flares during pregnancy increase the incidence of fetal loss, preterm labor, intrauterine growth retardation, preeclampsia and active lupus nephritis. Unplanned pregnancy before pregnancy, active lupus nephritis during pregnancy, aPL positive and antiSSA positive are associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Adult ; Bilirubin ; blood ; Biomarkers ; blood ; Disease Progression ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Liver ; pathology ; Liver Cirrhosis, Biliary ; blood ; drug therapy ; etiology ; Liver Function Tests ; Male ; Middle Aged ; S-Adenosylmethionine ; therapeutic use ; Ursodeoxycholic Acid ; therapeutic use

ObjectiveTo investigate whether there exists gender differences in mechanical pain hypersensitivity induced by the subcutaneous injection of macrophage colony-stimulating factor （M-CSF） in normal mice and to explore the preliminary mechanism. MethodsThirty 10-week-old C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into three groups， (n = 10 mice/group, half male and half female). The albumin control group （BSA， 0.3 μg）， low dose M-CSF group （L M-CSF， 0.075 μg） and high dose M-CSF group （H M-CSF， 0.3 μg） received 50 μL BSA or M-CSF injected subcutaneously into the left medial thigh once daily for 3 consecutive days. Before and after drug administration， von-Frey mechanical sensitivity test was used to detect the mechanical paw withdrawal threshold （PWT） in each group. Immunofluorescence was performed to examine the expression changes of Ionized calcium-binding adaptor molecule 1 (Iba1) in skin， calcitonin gene-related peptide （CGRP） and phosphorylated ERK1/2 （p-ERK） in L5-L6 DRG and lumbar spinal dorsal horn. ResultsIn female mice， only high dose of M-CSF caused mechanical allodynia， whereas in male mice both doses produced marked allodynia. Mechanically， high-dose M-CSF induced massive aggregation of subcutaneous macrophages （marked by Iba1） in male and female mice， but more dramatic dependence in female mice. Similar gender differences were also found in the increase of p-ERK and CGRP expression in dorsal root ganglion （DRGs）. Notably， CGRP expression was especially elevated in the fibers of DRG in male mice. Correspondingly， the expressions of p-ERK and CGRP⁺ terminals in the superficial spinal dorsal horn of male mice were significantly higher than those of female mice after M-CSF treatment. ConclusionSubcutaneous injection of M-CSF triggers sexual dimorphism in mechanical pain hypersensitivity, which is related with differential changes in peripheral macrophage expansion and sensitization of the nociceptive pathway.

【Objective】 To explore the risk factors of twin pregnancies complicated with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in early pregnancy, and search for effective predictors of GDM in twin pregnancy. 【Methods】 Retrospective analysis was performed on 318 patients of twin pregnancies who had regular prenatal examinations and delivered in The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University between January, 2015 and June, 2019. According to the results of 75 g oral glucose tolerance test(OGTT), 84 cases were assigned to the GDM group, and 234 cases were assigned to non-GDM group. The clinical characteristics of the subjects were recorded, including age, pre-pregnancy body mass index, gravidity, parity, medical history, mode of conception and chorionicity. The subjects' results of fasting plasma glucose, total cholesterol, triglycerides, high density lipoprotein, low density lipoprotein, and pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A, free beta subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin for Down's screening in early pregnancy(11~13⁺⁶ weeks) were also included. Risk factors were analyzed by multivariate-Logistic stepwise regression, and receiver-operating characteristic curve was used to evaluate the prediction of GDM in twin pregnancy. 【Results】 ① The age and pre-pregnancy body mass index of GDM group were higher than those of non-GDM group(P < 0.001), and the proportion of GDM group combined with polycystic ovary syndrome was higher(P < 0.05); ② FPG and TG in GDM group were higher than those of non-GDM group(P < 0.05), however, there was no difference in TC, HDL, LDL, PAPP-A MOM and Free β-HCG MOM between the two groups(P > 0.05); ③ Age, pre-pregnancy body mass index, PCOS history and FPG in early pregnancy were independent risk factors of GDM in twin pregnancy; ④ The AUC of FPG for predicting GDM in twin pregnancy was 0.617 (95%CI: 0.547 ~ 0.688), when FPG was 4.495 mmol/L, the Youden's index was 0.223 with sensitivity and specificity of 65.5% and 56.8%, respectively; The AUC of TG was 0.65(95%CI: 0.584 ~ 0.716), when TG was 1.195 mmol/L, the Youden's index was 0.24 with sensitivity and specificity of 77.4% and 46.6%, respectively; The AUC of FPG, TG combined age, pre-pregnancy body mass index, PCOS history was 0.751(95%CI: 0.693 ~ 0.810), with sensitivity and specificity of 73.8% and 70.1%, respectively. 【Conclusion】 Age, pre-pregnancy body mass index, PCOS history and FPG in early pregnancy were independent risk factors of GDM in twin pregnancy; FPG and TG in early pregnancy can be used to predict GDM in twin pregnancy, and when combined with clinical characteristics, can increase the value of prediction.